Snuggle Up With Sparky

Tahoma Meadows

There’s nothing like an old-style cabin to impart a sense of place at Lake Tahoe. We have a few dog-friendly favorites, starting with Tahoma Meadows Bed & Breakfast Cottages on Tahoe's West Shore, a semi-secret place that has developed a loyal following among outdoorsy couples and families traveling with their four-legged friends. Proprietors Dick and Ulli White found their niche some years ago when they started welcoming canines, and their website's pet page is loaded with suggestions on places to go and things to do with Fido.

If you're looking for upscale lodging on the South Shore, make tracks to Fireside Lodge Bed-and-Breakfast, a log cabin-style lodge remodeled with river-rock fireplaces and knotty pine woodwork to capture the essence of Tahoe. Owners David and Christine Latshaw welcome well behaved dogs to their "doggone friendly" property and are happy to recommend hikes, ski trails, restaurants and other canine-friendly activities.

For location, value and convenience, it's hard to beat Zephyr Cove Resort, a cluster of cabins in a scenic lakeshore location on the Nevada side of the lake, just minutes from South Shore restaurants and casinos. Most of the nicely updated cabins have kitchens, which makes the what-to-do-at-mealtime question a lot more manageable. Holly’s Place in South Lake Tahoe, situated within walking distance of the lakeshore, is unique in that supervised dogs are allowed to play off-leash on the completely fenced, two-acre property offering lodging in studio cabins with kitchenettes or a three-bedroom cabin with living room and full kitchen. Just have to hit those casinos? Pet-sitting for most dogs is available at $5 per hour.